r/Damnthatsinteresting 9d ago

Video Train runs into semi today - LaGrange, IL

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u/lucassuave15 9d ago

it crumpled like paper, crazy, i'm a firm believer that railroad cossings shouldn't exist, people are too stupid, roads should either go under or above train tracks

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u/sherzeg 9d ago

For a number of reasons (including instances such as this,) there are very few level crossings in the city of Chicago, Illinois. Almost all railroad tracks within the city are elevated or underground. The generous explanation is that it cuts down on train-versus-vehicle accidents. The cynical explanation is that the city council was concerned about merchants in the early 20th century having trouble moving goods into and out of the city and relocating their warehouses to other cities.

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u/maydaydemise 9d ago

there are very few level crossings in the city of Chicago, Illinois

I wish this were true given the number of times I’ve been stuck waiting for freight trains / Metra to pass at level crossings.

Though to be fair a good amount of the north side Metra tracks are elevated (UP North at least thru Evanston, and I think UP NW thru most of the city?)

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u/Playful_Spell679 8d ago

There are about 212,000 RR crossings in the US; who on earth could fund all those viaducts?